Hey everyone, I called the VA earlier today to sort out a question. I got ahold of probably the most helpful VA employee ever. He gave me a solid tip for when you need more information about your status than their usual scripted answers. If after their scripted status answer they don't provide any extra useful information, ask them to check the program "Case Flow". According to the rep this is where all the detailed status and notes are kept. He also said if you ask them to look, they are supposed to, including what is written in the notes. This is how I have found out exactly what people have been up to in my appeal. Hope this helps, just having a real idea what the VA is actual doing relieves some of the stress that comes along with dealing with the VA.
-After searching about this system, it seems this is only for appeals, and came about as part of AMA.
These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.
Service Connection
Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected.
Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.
Effective Dates
Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.
I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful. We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did. He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims. He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file. It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to 1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015. It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me. He didn't want my copies. Anyone have any information on this. Much thanks in advance.
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
VA has gotten away with (mis) interpreting their ambigious, , vague regulations, then enforcing them willy nilly never in Veterans favor.
They justify all this to congress by calling themselves a "pro claimant Veteran friendly organization" who grants the benefit of the doubt to Veterans.
This is not true,
Proof:
About 80-90 percent of Veterans are initially denied by VA, pushing us into a massive backlog of appeals, or worse, sending impoverished Veterans "to the homeless streets" because when they cant work, they can not keep their home. I was one of those Veterans who they denied for a bogus reason: "Its been too long since military service". This is bogus because its not one of the criteria for service connection, but simply made up by VA. And, I was a homeless Vet, albeit a short time, mostly due to the kindness of strangers and friends.
Hadit would not be necessary if, indeed, VA gave Veterans the benefit of the doubt, and processed our claims efficiently and paid us promptly. The VA is broken.
A huge percentage (nearly 100 percent) of Veterans who do get 100 percent, do so only after lengthy appeals. I have answered questions for thousands of Veterans, and can only name ONE person who got their benefits correct on the first Regional Office decision. All of the rest of us pretty much had lengthy frustrating appeals, mostly having to appeal multiple multiple times like I did.
I wish I know how VA gets away with lying to congress about how "VA is a claimant friendly system, where the Veteran is given the benefit of the doubt". Then how come so many Veterans are homeless, and how come 22 Veterans take their life each day? Va likes to blame the Veterans, not their system.
Question
SPO
Hey everyone, I called the VA earlier today to sort out a question. I got ahold of probably the most helpful VA employee ever. He gave me a solid tip for when you need more information about your status than their usual scripted answers. If after their scripted status answer they don't provide any extra useful information, ask them to check the program "Case Flow". According to the rep this is where all the detailed status and notes are kept. He also said if you ask them to look, they are supposed to, including what is written in the notes. This is how I have found out exactly what people have been up to in my appeal. Hope this helps, just having a real idea what the VA is actual doing relieves some of the stress that comes along with dealing with the VA.
-After searching about this system, it seems this is only for appeals, and came about as part of AMA.
Edited by SPOLink to comment
Share on other sites
Top Posters For This Question
2
2
1
1
Popular Days
Jun 18
3
Jun 19
3
Jun 17
2
Top Posters For This Question
blahsaysme2u 2 posts
GBArmy 2 posts
broncovet 1 post
SPO 1 post
Popular Days
Jun 18 2021
3 posts
Jun 19 2021
3 posts
Jun 17 2021
2 posts
Popular Posts
SPO
Hey everyone, I called the VA earlier today to sort out a question. I got ahold of probably the most helpful VA employee ever. He gave me a solid tip for when you need more information about your s
blahsaysme2u
i have also found this to be the case. makes sense- they know what we are going through usually bc they are or have had claims themselves i hope this thread stays active so we can get a better pi
broncovet
Great idea! I hope VA people working the phones all got the memo!
7 answers to this question
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now